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The START Project
The START Project emphasizes the development of a statewide collaborative through the formation of district teams that work together to promote practices that lead to more effective programming and support for students with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
The START Project focuses on providing support for school staff and administrators committed to systems level changes through the use of effective practices in educational programming for students with ASD.
Through the START Project, educators, support professionals, and families from across the state have come together to connect, share, and grow in order to better teach students on the autism spectrum.
The START Project at Grand Valley State University encompasses four primary components: Coaching, Collaboration and Networking, and Resources, and Effective Practices.
The prevalence of ASD has increased across the country to one in 88 children (CDC, 2012). Data from the Michigan Department of Education indicates that in 1990, 1208 children between the ages of birth to 26 identified with ASD were receiving special education services, whereas by January 2012, 16,591 children were receiving services under the ASD eligibility. The growing number of individuals with ASD poses a challenge to Michigan’s schools and school building teams need the knowledge and skills to teach their students with ASD using research based practices.
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Autism Education Center Staff Contact Information
Page last modified April 11, 2013
